k
kc M.
Traveler
TravelerParkside Campground
Up in the mountains , next to large streams
14 miles from red lodge. Paved sites, table, bear box. No cell service. No services, well pump. Hiking, 4x4 trails. Dispersed camping nearby.
Tent Camping near Red Lodge, MT
15 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Primitive tent camping options surround Red Lodge, Montana, with sites scattered throughout the Custer National Forest and along nearby waterways. Sheridan Campground provides tent-only sites within the national forest boundary from May through early September. Other options include the more remote Initial Creek Campground for hikers seeking backcountry tent camping, and Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass for dispersed camping in a more isolated setting.
Access to tent sites varies significantly, with many requiring travel on unpaved forest roads. Sites at Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping include bear boxes for food storage, but limited amenities otherwise, with most areas featuring only vault toilets and no drinking water. Tent campers should bring all water and supplies, as most locations lack services. At Rosebud Isle Fishing Access Site, only 8 tent spots are available, making early arrival essential. Primitive tent setups are common at dispersed sites, which typically allow fires but may have seasonal restrictions during high fire danger periods.
The Swinging Bridge Fishing Access Site offers tent campers well-spaced sites with vegetation and trees providing natural separation between camping areas. Each site includes a fire ring with cooking grate and picnic table, providing a comfortable base for primitive tent camping. Higher elevation tent sites near Red Lodge may experience cold overnight temperatures even in summer months. According to one visitor at Lady of the Lake Trail, "We spotted lots of moose, they are everywhere up there." Sites at Initial Creek Campground feature bear-proof containers at each of the six tent sites, with the sound of the West Fork of the Stillwater River audible throughout the camping area. Campers seeking more solitude should consider the dispersed tent camping options farther from town, which generally see less traffic and provide a more authentic wilderness experience. Tent campsites near Red Lodge range from six-site backcountry spots to walk-in fishing access sites, giving tent campers flexible options across varying levels of remoteness and elevation.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Red Lodge (15)
1. Sheridan Campground
2. Rosebud Isle
3. North Fork Campground — Buffalo Bill State Park
"Surrounded by mountains and right on the Shoshone River, this is a bit of Heaven on earth."
"Typical State Park with wide open spots and no privacy. We got a pull through site with electricity but no water hookup. Potable water was available throughout the park, however."
from $10 / night
Check Availability4. Swinging Bridge Fishing Access Site - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
"One vault toilet and no water source(other than the river) make this a primitive camp. We had cell service but not LTE."
"You are along a fast moving creek and the campsites are well spaced out with trees, vegetation or roads between each site. The sites themselves are well sized."
5. Cliff Swallow
"Sign said tent camping only but I stayed one night in my Sprinter van with no problem. Did not use vault toilet so cannot speak to its condition."
6. Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping
"That area has 2 pretty shaded spots, and both were taken. We headed over to Pilot and we were pleasantly surprised. Yes, there is a big open area with little privacy if it is crowded."
7. Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass
"This site was quiet the night we stayed here and had good views of the surrounding mountains but there was a few excavating machines near the site."
"The camp sites are scattered throughout the trails and are not close to each other. They are easy to spot and not to bad to get to."
8. East Boulder Campground
"Site: 2 RESERVATIONS NO
FCFS
FEES: NONE
Open all year
No water Picnic table, fire ring, pit toilet
This campground is located right off East Boulder Road."
"There's no water, except from the stream, but there are good picnic tables and a well-maintained vault toilet."
9. Initial Creek Campground
"6 sites, each has a picnic table and a bear proof container. You can hear the West Fork of the Stillwater River from each site and trails lead down to the river."
10. Big Quiet Farm Stay & Campground
"We're so excited to have Rod's property on our platform! So many ways to stay, from Tee-Pees to tents!"
from $65 - $150 / night
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Drive Time
- 1 hr 4 min from Billings, MT
- 2 hrs 6 min from Bozeman, MT
- 3 hrs 29 min from Helena, MT
- 5 hrs 20 min from Idaho Falls, ID
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Red Lodge, MT
47 Photos of 15 Red Lodge Campgrounds
Jeff K.
Swinging Bridge Fishing Access Site - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Linda C.
Cliff Swallow
Rebecca B.
Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping
Henry W.
Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass
Tanya B.
Big Quiet Farm Stay & Campground
David N.
North Fork Campground — Buffalo Bill State Park
Dexter I.
2S3 Slough Creek - Yellowstone NP back country campsite — Yellowstone National Park
Mitchell W.
East Boulder Campground
Tent Camping Reviews near Red Lodge, MT
465 Reviews of 15 Red Lodge Campgrounds
Annie C.
LegendBeartooth Lake
Aptly named campground
A well named campground as the grizzly bear activities in the campground precluded us actually spending the night in the campground in July of 2015. The ranger actually closed the campground down as we were pulling up, saying poor camper habits with food storage had attracted a sow and cub to the campground. He was going to set up a live trap and hopefully move them to a new home territory. That said, we were able to take a quick look at the campground before being shooed out. Nice, clean, about 20 sites not too close to each other with picnic tables, fire rings, food storage boxes, and vault toilets. We were able to hike around the outside edge of the campground (note the picture of the fresh bear print in the mud) to get to the Claw Lake Trail, an 8 miler that winds up over 9,000 feet past several beautiful named and unnamed lakes, including Claw Lake and Beauty Lake. Carry bear spray and mosquito spray!!
Dawn G.
RangerPebble Creek Campground — Yellowstone National Park - CLOSED IN 2024
Quiet & Peaceful!
Pebble Creek was our favorite campground in Yellowstone National Park. A less crowded area of the park, probably why we loved it! 27 sites and all are available first come first serve- no reservations! The location and lack of reservations make this a quiet, peaceful campground. It sits at 6900 feet elevation. All sites have a table, fire ring, and food storage locker- it is bear country! There are vault toilets and seasonally there is potable drinking water. Our first night there we stayed in one of the"pull out sites" on the west side of the campground. It was ok, however they are not true pull outs, you just park on the side of the park road.... not bad considering the low use of this campground. On our second night we scored a spot on the east side right across from Pebble Creek.... it was perfect! We enjoyed drinks in our chairs at the creekside and a beautiful night listening to the peaceful sounds of the creek. It appears they have changed the site numbers since we visited to add some tent sites, so do not pay attention to the site markers in our old nostalgic photos!
- NN I.Legend
Parkside Campground
Beautiful High
Open: Early May - Late Sep
Fee area: $19.25 extra vehicle $9.50
Limit: 16 days
Sites 28 with a camp host
Reservations: 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov
FCFS 20% of sites
Amenities: pit toilets, water, bear boxes, fire ring, picnic table, firewood for sale, trash
Sites 10 and 12 are good for solar. Sites are paved
This campground has a wonderful creek running through it. Well wooded with mature every green and leafed shade trees. Sites have privacy and the backdrop of the surrounding mountains is amazing.
joel G.
GuidePalisades Campground — Custer Gallatin National Forest
Camping before Beartooth Pass
Nice quiet spot we found, #3, next to a creek. Includes bear box, picnic table, fire pit, and close by a clean pit toilet. This is just outside of Red Lodge, MT.
- RRob F.Guide
Hicks Park
A lovely Forest Service campground with many sites by the river
An excellent campground near the end of the drivable section of the Boulder Road. Good fishing right from the campground and a trailhead across the street and another two a mile up the road. There are good fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets and bear boxes. If the campground is full, there are some dispersed campsites about a half mile south on the right.
- RRebecca B.Guide
Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping
Open or Wooded — Your Choice
Like most people, we had hoped to stay across the street along the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. That area has 2 pretty shaded spots, and both were taken. We headed over to Pilot and we were pleasantly surprised. Yes, there is a big open area with little privacy if it is crowded. But it’s great for groups and perfect for solar and cattle watching (our dog loves to watch cows). But there are at least half a dozen wooded spots, setback. Three have bear boxes and are right by a hiking trail. Add to this the beautiful mountains, ease of access to Yellowstone or Red Lodge, and a clean vault toilet and we would stay again.
- JJames S.Traveler
Basin Campground
Nice USFS campground near Red Lodge Montana
This is a small but nicely maintained campground about 7 miles from Red Lodge, MT on the West Fork of Rock Creek.
- BBob R.Ranger
Basin Campground
Excellent FS Campground
Basin Campground is just a few miles outside Red Lodge, Montana at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains. The road in is paved and passes through beautiful elk country and along the West Fork of Rock Creek, a large stream coming out of the mountains. Sites are paved and mostly level and nestled in the pine trees - gorgeous! The camp hosts are fantastic, the vault toilet bathrooms were very clean and there is water available at several pump spigots throughout the campground. The Beartooth Highway is a must when in the area as well as a visit to Red Lodge. We loved it here! P.S. We had no cell coverage with T-Mobile and so-so reception with Starlink due to the tree cover.
Guide to Red Lodge
Tent campers near Red Lodge, Montana access multiple dispersed camping areas throughout the Custer Gallatin National Forest with elevations typically between 5,500-8,000 feet. Summer overnight temperatures often drop into the 40s even during July and August. Several primitive camping options require traveling unpaved forest roads that become difficult after rainfall.
What to do
Fishing access sites: Rosebud Isle Fishing Access Site offers tent camping with direct river access, though availability is limited. "Only 8 spots available. Too close to civilization as we had cell service," notes Thomas F., suggesting early arrival for weekend camping.
Hiking from camp: Initial Creek Campground serves as a starting point for backcountry exploration with established trails. "You can hear the West Fork of the Stillwater River from each site and trails lead down to the river. The trailhead to other hikes is 1 mile up the road," writes Jessica.
Wildlife viewing: The high-elevation camping areas provide opportunities to observe local wildlife in natural settings. At Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass, one camper reported "We truly loved this place. It was so isolated and peaceful. The camp sites are scattered throughout the trails and are not close to each other." Wildlife sightings are common, with another camper noting "we saw a bear, moose and deer."
What campers like
Natural separation: Swinging Bridge Fishing Access Site provides well-spaced tent sites with natural barriers. "The campsites are well spaced out with trees, vegetation or roads between each site. The sites themselves are well sized," according to Stacey N., who appreciated the privacy between sites.
Riverside camping: East Boulder Campground offers tent sites directly adjacent to water. A camper described it as "a great place to fish, rock hound and there are some trails very close." Another visitor noted, "The river is beautiful and loved hearing it at night."
Higher elevation options: For tent campers seeking cooler temperatures and remote settings, Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping provides access to the mountains. "Like most people, we had hoped to stay across the street along the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. That area has 2 pretty shaded spots, and both were taken. We headed over to Pilot and we were pleasantly surprised," Rebecca B. reports, noting the area has "at least half a dozen wooded spots, setback. Three have bear boxes and are right by a hiking trail."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many of the best tent camping areas near Red Lodge, Montana require travel on unmaintained roads. At Lady of the Lake Trail, a camper warned, "I came up the road which starts out very nice gravel but then gets pretty rough and rocky." The condition limits vehicle types but reduces competition for sites.
Bear safety equipment: Several dispersed camping areas provide bear boxes for food storage. At East Boulder Campground, campers find "a toilet, fire ring, and picnic table" but should follow bear safety protocols. Initial Creek Campground provides additional protection with "a bear proof container" at each of its six sites.
Limited site availability: The most appealing tent camping locations fill quickly. At East Boulder Campground, "There are just 2 sites here but they are spacious and private!" A camper advised, "Both spots were filled on a Sunday night, so try to get there early or on a non weekend."
Tips for camping with families
Short hikes: East Boulder Campground offers access to beginner-friendly trails suitable for children. A visitor mentioned "there are some trails very close" to the campground that don't require extensive hiking experience.
Riverside activities: Cliff Swallow provides water access for families seeking cooling off options. One camper shared, "Some algae near the shore of river but waded out deeper for refreshing dip," indicating safe swimming opportunities during summer months.
Wildlife education: Lady of the Lake Trail presents wildlife viewing opportunities that can serve as natural educational experiences. Families should maintain appropriate distance and safety measures, as one camper noted seeing "lots of moose, they are everywhere up there."
Tips for RVers
Access limitations: Most primitive tent camping areas near Red Lodge have challenging access roads unsuitable for larger RVs. At Swinging Bridge, one camper warned, "Roads are narrow and curved—would not be good for a trailer unless you really knew what you were doing."
Size-appropriate sites: Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping accommodates smaller RVs in specific areas. "Plenty of spots in the grass for big rigs and trailers," noted Lauren C., though she recommended sites away from facilities for better experience.
Weather considerations: Higher elevation camping areas experience significant temperature drops at night. "It was very cold at night even in August," reported one camper at Lady of the Lake Trail, suggesting RVers bring adequate heating options for overnight comfort.
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